The call to leadership in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), is a call to diverse forms of service. Ruling Elders are also charged to nurture the faith and life of the congregation while encouraging members in worship, service, mission, and care.
“I really don’t feel qualified. I think a minister should lead the committee — someone who has studied the Bible.”
The Book of Order makes it clear: Elders “should cultivate their ability to teach the Bible. … ”
Preaching forms the theological mind and heart of a congregation. A congregation nurtured by preaching that plumbs the murky depths of truth, preaching that provides a realistic and relevant engagement with the Scriptures, will show signs of spiritual depth and maturity.
While our Presbyterian General Assembly met in San Jose, a presidential candidate out on the stump asked during a speech, “Which passages of Scripture should guide our public policy?
Measuring results might seem dull ministry compared to membership development, leadership development, spiritual development, and other hands-on ministries of the healthy church.
For as long as I have been a pastor (almost 20 years), I have heard my evangelical brothers and sisters use as a paradigm for dealing with the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) the parable of the frog in water brought to a gradual boil.
Bangalore, India — (ENI) Churches in India are to close about 30,000 of their educational institutions across the country tomorrow (August 29) to protest against continuing attacks by mobs of Hindus in the country's eastern state of Orissa and which Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has told bishops, is a "national shame".
The 2008 Peacemaking Colloquium at Stony Point Center with the theme of “Gun Violence and Gospel Values,” is planned September 15-17 at Stony Point Center, 35 miles north of New York City.
“The Little Mermaid: Ariel’s Beginning” — Actually a prequel, where Ariel is a young mermaid princess, growing up with her sisters and a very happy Mom and Dad.
(PNS) Twelve new Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) mission appointees recently completed orientation and have begun their international assignments.
Synod of Lakes and Prairies Communications Director
EAGAN, MINN. — (PNS) The Permanent Judicial Commission of the Synod of Lakes and Prairies on Aug. 12 dismissed a remedial case filed against the Presbytery of the Twin Cities Area that sought to nullify the presbytery’s Jan. 26 action to restore Paul Capetz, an openly gay man, to the exercise of ordained ministry.
(ENI)--Barack Obama articulated his Christian faith thus dispelling rumors he is a Muslim. John McCain demonstrated an ability to electrify evangelical Christians. And Saddleback Church Pastor Rick Warren proved Americans can discuss religion and politics without the bitterness, rancor and polarization that characterized the 2004 U.S. election.
As editor of a magazine that speaks to the whole church, I feel compelled to speak to friends of various convictions — while allowing all others to overhear the conversation. Two weeks ago I began with the group that has most nurtured my faith: conservative-evangelicals. Last week, I wrote to those who have broadened my vision: liberal-progressives. This week, I address those who have grounded my churchmanship, centrist-ecclesiasts.
This is what people from the Gulf Coast tell Linda Gebetsberger, a pastor from Oregon, every time she heads home. “Let them know that we still need help.”
LOUISVILLE — Four top leaders of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) have sent a letter to all of the denomination’s congregations asking them to pray for those affected by the shootings in a Knoxville, Tenn., church on July 27.
Many elders, deacons, and pastors are less than pleased when the subject of the annual stewardship campaign comes up. In many churches the activities that make up this campaign are the only time the majority of members hear the term stewardship and it is often one of the few times they hear money and faith linked in worship.
Websites that might be helpful:
Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) resources for annual campaigns stewardship in general and stewardship education. Either: The Stewardship Manual PDS #72530-94-001 or Confident Steward 2.0 – an interactive CD
Stewardship season is coming. For most congregations it’s akin to getting a flu shot. Each autumn we volunteer reluctantly to be pricked in the body’s nether regions hoping all the while to be protected against further exposure for another year. It’s no surprise, then, that so many pastors speak reluctantly, if at all, on the topics of money and generosity.
Does your church play favorites?
Do you give some members special treatment while ignoring others?
Many pastors look at stewardship as being repetitious and, frankly, less then exciting. Unfortunately, many pastors become extremely uncomfortable regarding the subject of money and giving. They view what seems like endless urgent appeals as a chore and not as an opportunity for their members to grow in their faith. Yet we know that pursuing mission requires financial support. A familiar quote says, “Ever since its invention by the Phoenicians 3,000 years ago, there has been a wonderful way of saying ‘thank you,’ it is called money.”
For the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) to move into God’s future, it must let go of its carefully stacked layers of church bureaucracy. For years now, the stacked layers have been in danger of crumbling/imploding on each other, weighed down as they are by years of history and unrealizable expectations—not to mention the dancing elephants.
To be healthy, not every church needs a demographically correct suburban location, a 30-something pastor with 20 years of flawless experience, a denomination free of bickering and embarrassment, a pot of gold, and a doctrinal package so compelling that God himself applauds.
“It is not about getting the world into the church, it is about getting the church into the world,” said Rob Weingartner to the closing session of the third annual PGF Inside Out Conference that concluded Saturday (August 16.) Throughout the three-day conference in Long Beach, California, that sentiment was intertwined with a question explored in the Friday night session, “Can We Be Faithful in the PC(USA)?”
The Presbyterian Global Fellowship’s third annual conference, “Inside Out,” began in Long Beach, California on Thursday evening. 
While a praise band filled the room with U2’s “Beautiful Day,” close to 1000 conference attendees from 34 states and 4 continents filed into the event’s opening session.
After half an hour of praise and worship music led by the Bel Air Praise Band, PGF Executive Director Kelly Kannwisher welcomed the attendees to the conference.
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